CAPUTO: Underrated? Overrated? We're about to find about MSU Spartans

Michigan State Spartans head coach Mike Dantonio prepares to lead the team on the field before an NCAA football game at Memorial Stadium in Champaign, ILL on Saturday, October 26, 2013. (AP Photo/Bradley Leeb)

What often separates the best college football programs is how well they travel.

Can they win a big game on the road?

During his tenure at Michigan State, Mark Dantonio’s record in this regard is mixed.

He has secured impressive Big Ten road wins. In 2011 at Ohio State, Northwestern and Penn State. Earlier this season, the Spartans turned their season around with an excellent road victory at Iowa. Even last season, when the Spartans struggled mightily overall, they beat Wisconsin on the road. Yeah. The same Wisconsin squad which rolled up 70 points on Nebraska in the Big Ten Championship game. Dantonio’s Spartans have won twice at Michigan.

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But conversely, at other times, just as it appeared the Spartans were about to break through the ceiling to elite status, the Big Ten road wasn’t as kind.

In 2008, the Spartans were playing for a share of the Big Ten title during their season finale at Penn State. They were drilled 49-18. In 2010, the Spartans were 8-0 and ranked fifth in the nation – and were beaten 37-6 at Iowa. In 2011, MSU did win the Legend’s Division and advance to the first Big Ten Championship Game. However, the Spartans’ one loss: 24-3 at Nebraska.

Kirk Cousins is the best quarterback Michigan State has had in recent memory. He threw for 86 yards in that game. Running back Le’Veon Bell is playing well for the NFL’s Pittsburgh Steelers. He had 58 yards rushing that overcast afternoon. By reputation, MSU’s defense wasn’t quite as good then as it is now. But it had dominated Michigan just two weeks before, and held a down version of Ohio State to seven points earlier in the season.

Michigan State and Nebraska, who meet Saturday for what ultimately could prove to be the Legend’s Division title, have similarities. Nebraska got off to a shaky start. A loss to Minnesota, and a disturbing audio tape surfacing from a couple years ago displaying questionable deportment by Cornhuskers’ head coach Bo Pelini, put his job on the line. Dantonio doesn’t have the conduct issues, and his job has not been in peril, but the Spartans were 7-6 in 2012, and this season began with a game of musical chairs at QB.

Both teams have the advantage of not playing division crossover games vs. Ohio State and Wisconsin. Minnesota is the only conference loss Nebraska has – so it gets the edge to win the Legend’s Division if it is victorious Saturday. If MSU wins, the Spartans are essentially headed to the Big Ten title game.

It’s difficult to tell at this point exactly how good the Spartans are. They haven’t faced a team in the current Associated Press Top 25 poll. Michigan doesn’t exactly rank as a signature victory, outside of the rivalry factor, at this stage. A close loss at unranked Notre Dame can’t be put in the impressive close-but-no-cigar loss category.

There are two views of the Spartans right now. One is they are overrated – purely a product of a ridiculously easy schedule. Another is they are underrated, and not given their due, despite having a truly outstanding defense.

Michigan State’s defense doesn’t just rank as the nation’s best statistically, it produces touchdowns. Nebraska does not have a great passer. Ameer Abdullah is a terrific running back, but the Cornhuskers offensive line has had injury issues.

Nebraska’s defense is a lot of like MSU’s offense. It has gotten better in recent weeks, but is still being viewed based on the subpar standards of last season when it allowed 63 points to Ohio State, and was steam-rolled by Wisconsin.

The Spartans’ offense is better. Connor Cook is no Kirk Cousins, at least not yet, but he has solidified the offense. State’s offensive line is playing well, and the receivers have been better.

A win Saturday, and the Spartans’ Rose Bowl dream – which has not been a reality since 1988 – might very well come true. Ohio State, which would be a heavy favorite over the Spartans in the Big Ten title game, could very well end up in the BCS title game.

Saturday’s game will define MSU’s season, and its football program, one way or another.

A win would be a breakthrough if it somehow leads to that elusive Rose Bowl trip.

A loss, and it would be the Spartans’ collective head hitting the ceiling again.

It’s a road MSU has traveled down before.

Will it take a different turn this time?

About the Author

Pat Caputo has written as a beat writer and sports columnist for The Oakland Press since 1984 and blogs at http://patcaputo.blogspot.com/. Reach the author at pat.caputo@oakpress.com
or follow Pat on Twitter: @PatCaputo98.